Menopause, a research topic lacking funding
The permanent cessation of menstruation, which is accompanied by a variety of symptoms, is a life stage that affects half of humanity. Yet it is very little studied. It's time to change that, argues the British scientific journal Nature in this editorial.
[This article can be found in our special issue Women, the fight continues, on sale since May 28 at your newsagent and on our website .]
Menopause—the permanent cessation of menstruation—is a phenomenon that almost all women will experience at some point in their lives. Its hallmark symptoms include sleep disturbances, hot flashes, and mood swings. It also leads to an increased risk of cardiovascular disease, diabetes, osteoporosis, and memory loss. Yet, menopause has rarely been a priority in public health systems or research.
It's quite shocking that a phenomenon that affects half of humanity attracts so little attention. In some parts of the world, the situation is apparently changing, but it's slow. The US National Institutes of Health (NIH) is working with scientists to develop a menopause research strategy [a situation that is likely to change with the drastic budget cuts announced by the Trump administration]. Researchers are once again looking at the potential of hormone therapies, once very popular, while others are exploring ways to prolong ovarian function to delay the onset of menopause.
At the same time, a growing number of caregivers are seeking training in menopause care. In the United States, for example, between 2022 and 2024, the Menopause Society, a nonprofit organization in Ohio, saw a fivefold increase in the number of applications for its certification exam. Many of these initiatives deserve to be better known.
Menopause typically occurs between the ages of 45 and 55. It can occur earlier for a variety of reasons, including natural ones, illnesses, and medical treatments. It can be easier to cope with thanks to
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